Lamp for vehicle

052 609 U

DESCRIPTION

Lamp for vehicles.

The invention relates to a lamp for vehicles with a light-conducting element, which has at least one light-coupling element, located between two light-emitting elements close to each other, with a light source, assigned to a surface of light coupling of the light coupling element, with at least two light deflection surfaces of the light coupling element, assigned respectively to one of the light decoupling elements and serving to deflect the light beams emitted from the light source towards the respective light decoupling element.

From EP 0900694 A2 a vehicle headlamp with a parking light bulb is known. The lamp consists of an annular light-conducting element, which surrounds a shell-shaped reflector. The light-conducting element has a light-coupling element, placed between two light-decoupling elements close to each other and connected to a light-conducting branch. Since the light-conducting element is annular in shape and has a single light-coupling element, the two light-decoupling elements become one another. The light decoupling elements have a light decoupling surface on the front side which is directed towards the headlight glass and a reflection surface on the rear side. The light coupling element has two flat light deflection surfaces and one light coupling surface. On the front side of the light-conducting element, the light-coupling element has a cradle-shaped groove, bounded by two flat light-deflecting surfaces. On the rear side of the light-conducting element, the light-coupling element reaches much further back and passes into a light-conducting branch. A light source is assigned to a light coupling surface of a light conducting branch. The light coupling element is caonically convergent towards its rear end and there presents a light coupling surface. Thanks to the caonically convergent section of the light coupling element, the divergent light exiting from the light source is oriented as parallel as possible. Only light running parallel to and incident to the flat light deflection surfaces is transported well into the light decoupling element before it is decoupled. A large part of the coupled light no longer runs parallel by the divergent light exiting from the light source and by multiple reflections on the light coupling element. Since the light that does not run parallel does not reach the light emitting element much after reflection on the light deflection surfaces or is lost, no homogeneous illumination can be achieved in long light decoupling elements.

From DE-A-199 04 644 a lamp is known, which consists of several connected light-conducting elements. The light-conducting elements have an elongated light-decoupling element and a light-engaging element. The light coupling element has a single outwardly domed light deflecting surface, at the focal point of which a light source is located. A light diode serves as a light source. The light deflection surface focuses all the light beams of the light diode. Thus, these go deep into the light decoupling element and the light decoupling element is homogeneously illuminated. In order to achieve an elongated light decoupling element, it is necessary to arrange several light-conducting elements side by side.

The aim of the invention is to improve the vehicle lamp described in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that as much as possible of the light from the light source captured by the light coupling element reaches as far as possible into the light decoupling elements and yet the light coupling element is not any constructive component projecting little by much from the rear side of the lamp. This objective is solved according to the invention by the fact that the light deflecting surfaces of the light coupling element are domed outwards and have a common focal point for the light source. The light source can be arranged very close to the light deflection surfaces, since the divergent light exiting the light source will not only be deflected, but also concentrated. The light can be concentrated so strongly that all the deflected light beams enter the light decoupling elements. In an annular light guide element with a single light coupling element, which has two light deflection surfaces, the two light deflection elements assigned to the light deflection surfaces can become one another.

The lamp according to the invention does not require any additional housing, if the light-conducting element is arranged inside a headlight or a taillight. In this it is expedient that the light emitting element is arranged in the lower part of the headlamp. Since the bottom of a headlamp is its coolest place, a heat sensitive light source, such as a light emitting diode, can also be used.

In order to obtain the most homogeneous lighting possible in a very long or very large annular light-conducting element, it is also advantageous if the light-conducting element has several spaced apart light coupling elements. In this case, the light decoupling elements arranged between the light coupling elements should have the same length.

The lamp has a shallow construction depth when the smallest distance from the light coupling surface to the light deflection surfaces is less than the construction depth of the light decoupling elements. In this regard, the light coupling surface may run flush with flush.

ES 1 052 609 U to the surface bordering the rear side of the light decoupling elements or it may be arranged within the surfaces bordering the front and rear side of the light decoupling element.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the light-conducting element is assigned to a reflector and a component that covers the light source, the light-decoupling surfaces of the light-conducting elements being directed towards a reflector surface of the reflector. and the light beams emerging from the light decoupling surface impinge on the reflection surface of the reflector. Since the light-conducting element is assigned to a reflector, only a very short light-decoupling element is required. The second deflection then takes place not through a reflection surface of the light decoupling element, but through the reflector. The advantage therein lies in the fact that only a short light decoupling element is needed and that the normally long light decoupling element is for the most part replaced by a reflector of simple configuration and inexpensive manufacture. Additionally, another degree of freedom is gained to homogeneously illuminate the reflector when the light decoupling surface of the light-conducting element is provided with additional optic elements.

Furthermore, it is advantageous for the light deflection surfaces to run in a paraboolic manner, the axis of rotation of the paraboloid extending into the respective light decoupling element. The light deflection surfaces are fragments of a paraboloid, which align the light from the light source arranged at the focal point of the light deflection surfaces parallel to the light decoupling elements. The deflected light stream is then introduced into the light decoupling element and leaves there, after reflection on a back reflection surface, via a front light emitting surface. In an annular light guide element with a single light source or a light coupling element, homogeneous illumination of the light guide element as a whole can be achieved.

It is also advantageous, when the light deflection surfaces run eloptically, the light source is arranged in a first common focal point of the light deflection surfaces and the second focal points lie in a lone, extending within of the respective light emitting element. In this connection, it is advantageous if the second focal points are accommodated close to the respective light decoupling element or are located within the light decoupling elements. In this way, all the deflected light is then modulated in the light decoupling elements, when they have a small profile.

It is also advantageous if the light modulation element has at least three light deflection surfaces, to which a light decoupling element is respectively assigned. The same light current ratio is directed to each of the light decoupling elements if the light decoupling elements run adjacent to the light coupling element with the same angle to each other.

It is also advantageous that the light deflecting surfaces which fully reflect the light from the light source are provided with at least one light emitting element. Since the light is deflected at the light deflection surfaces by total reflection, the area that normally appears dark from the outside is illuminated by means of the light decoupling elements. As light decoupling elements, interference surfaces inserted into the deflection surfaces, such as prisms, grooves or ribs, can serve. The light-conducting element also has a homogeneous appearance in the area of ​​the light deflection surfaces in the on and off state, when the light decoupling elements from the front light deflection surfaces viewed from the front side of the element The light conductor continued in a certain pattern, such as a strip-shaped pattern, of the rear reflection surfaces of the light decoupling elements.

By juxtaposing several light deflection and light decoupling elements, a light strip is formed which, using a light diode, is constructed very flat also in the area of ​​the light coupling elements. By using a light diode, the light coupling surface can be kept small. Thus, with optical elements on the light modulation surface, the light deflection surfaces can be made small. The light-conducting element can be manufactured economically, when the light-engaging element and the light-decoupling element are formed of a one-piece light-conducting element.

The vehicle light can also be arranged inside a vehicle and serve as interior or orientation lighting. An orienting lamp can extend along or around a handle.

Several examples of realization according to the invention are represented in the graphic part, and specifically shown in:

Figure 1 in a perspective view, an annular light conductor element with a light coupling element and a light source assigned to the light coupling element,

Figure 2 in a median longitudinal section, a light coupling element with parabolic light deflection surfaces,

Figure 3 in a middle longitudinal section, a light coupling element with a parameter of different size or P / 2,

Figure 4 in a median longitudinal section, a light coupling element with eloptically shaped light deflection surfaces,

Figure 5 in a median longitudinal section, an elongated light conductor element with two light coupling elements,

Figure 6 in a perspective view, a light coupling element with three surfaces

ES 1 052 609 U light deflection and

Figure 7 in a median longitudinal section, a bowl-shaped reflector in which a light-conducting element was mounted.

The lamp shown in FIG. 1 is used for position light and has an annular light-conducting element 1. The lamp was intended for a non-illustrated headlamp. Inside the headlamp, the annular light-conducting element 1 surrounds a lens of a light module. The annular light-conducting element 1 can also surround a bowl-shaped headlamp. The light-conducting element 1 has a single light-coupling element 3 with a light source 4 assigned to it. The light source 4 is a light diode. The light coupling element 3 and the light source 4 are located below the light module and constitute an individual part of the light conducting element 1. The light coupling element 3 was inserted between two light emitting elements 2, which have a round profile, which together form an open ring and which become one in another due to the annular configuration.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4 three different light coupling elements are shown 3. The light coupling elements 3 have on the front side of the light element 1 a cradle-shaped groove, the two lateral sides of which constitute the surfaces light deflection 6. The light deflection surfaces 6 are domed outwards and concentrate the light exiting the light source 4. Therefore, all the light coming out of the light source 4 can be coupled to the light decoupling elements 2. On the rear side of the light-conducting element 1, the light coupling element 3 has a light coupling surface. 5, formed by a trough-shaped hole practiced in the light coupling element 3. The light source 4 is arranged close to the light coupling surface 5. From the light source 4, which constitutes a light diode, a conical beam of light emerges, which falls completely on the light deflection surfaces. Due to the concentration of light on the light deflection surfaces 6, the light enters deep into the light decoupling elements 2. In the light decoupling elements 2, the light is reflected off the rear reflection surfaces 9 towards the front light emitting surfaces 10. Since the light enters deep into the light coupling elements 3, the annular light-conducting element 1 is well illuminated in its entirety.

The light coupling element 3 of FIG. 2 has paraboolic light deflection surfaces 6, which constitute a section of a paraboloid. The axes of rotation of the paraboloids run centrally inward of the respective adjacent light emitting element 2. As a result, homogeneous illumination of the light decoupling elements 2 can be achieved. The ooptic axis of the light source 4 runs in a plane of symmetry of the light decoupling element 2, the plane of symmetry running through the bottom of the cradle-shaped groove formed by means of both light deflection surfaces 6 and centrally by the light coupling surface 5. In this way a portion of equal magnitude of the coonic beam of light exiting from the light source 4 is guided into both light decoupling elements 2.

In the light coupling element 3 of Figure 3, the ooptic axis of the light source 4 runs at a distance from the bottom of the cradle-shaped groove. For this reason, the portions of the conical beam of light, which are deflected towards both elements of light emission, have a different magnitude.

The light coupling element 3 according to FIG. 4 has two eloptic light deflection surfaces 6. The light source 4 is located in a first focal point 7 of the eloptic light deflection surfaces 6, the second focal points 11 of the light deflection surfaces 6 being found in a lone, which runs centrally into the respective element of light emission 2. The second focal points 11 are respectively located in a region of the light-conducting element 1, which connects the light-coupling element 3 with the respective light-decoupling element 2.

In FIG. 5 an elongated light-conducting element 1 is shown, which has two light-coupling elements 3. The two light-coupling elements 3 are arranged between elongated light-decoupling elements 2 with round profile. One of the light decoupling elements 2 joins the two light coupling elements 3. The light decoupling elements 2 and the light coupling elements 3 are made of a one-piece light-conducting element 1.

The light coupling element according to FIG. 6 has a light source 4 and three light deflection surfaces 6, with which the light can be guided respectively in one of the total of three elongated light coupling elements 2.

The light-conducting element 1 represented in FIG. 7 is assigned to a central aperture 13 of a reflector 8 formed in a rectangular and bowl shape. The aperture 13 of the reflector 8 serves for the reception of the light source 4. The aperture 13 is covered by the light-conducting element 1. The light coupling element 3 has two light deflection surfaces 6, which guide the light from the light source 4 towards a respective light decoupling surface 10, which runs transversely to the light beams, which are reflected from the light deflection surfaces 6. The light beams projecting from the light decoupling surfaces 10 impinge on a reflection surface 9 of the reflector 8, which deflects the light beams in a desired direction. References

1. Light conductor element

two. Light decoupling element

3. Light coupling element

Four. Light source

5. Light coupling surface

6. Light deflection surface

7. Focal point

8. Reflector

ES 1 052 609 U

9. Reflective surface

10. Light decoupling surface

eleven. Second focal point

12. Light decoupling element

13. Opening